Joshua Burnell Band

Joshua Burnell’s unique, original songwriting explores themes from traditional music fused with his own dynamic brand of retro pop-infused folk. With music ranging from stomping, acoustic singalongs, Bowie-esque music hall epics, and alt-pop singles – whilst keeping a sharp focus on the traditional themes – Joshua is fast carving out his own unique corner of the genre.

He makes retro folk rock for the modern world. His latest album, Glass Knight, which according to the Financial Times, “plays like a lost out-take from Spiders From Mars-era Bowie”, has won over a host of new fans since its release in the autumn. Expect folky melodies drenched in warm, retro-synth textures, reverbing guitars, lush harmonies and words that make you think. Through his intricately crafted lyrics, Joshua creates a multiverse of settings, from apocalyptic love songs to reimagined fairy tales, and introduces otherworldly characters – the Glass Knight being resurrected from an old English folk tale to reflect the foibles of the modern-day world.

Joshua and his band love what they do and it is infectious; they left the stage at Fairport’s Cropredy Convention to a standing ovation, and similarly won the hearts of audiences at Towersey, Folkeast, Wickham and Moonbeams festivals this summer. Whatever your take on this genre-hopping songwriter’s music, he has proven he can connect with an audience and keep them hanging on for more. In Joshua’s own words, ‘It is about telling a compelling story while discovering what it means to be human.’

Photography: Elly Lucas